LUKANIN ROOKERY. 435 



direction of the Reef; 11 pups and two 2-year-olds join the party and all hurry along, 

 the pups leading. Five more pups and a cow also start. Two pups have died since 

 Sunday ; two more weak ones are seen. A large number of small ones are in the slide ; 

 one is not over a week old. 



AUGUST 26. 

 MR. CLARK'S NOTES. 



Mr. Lucas and 1 went this afternoon to Lukanin and Kitovi rookeries. 



The most striking thing about the rookeries to-day is the general air of restlessness 

 among all classes of seals except a few sleepy old bulls. One can not show himself 

 for an instant without starting the seals. Probably the clearness of the day has 

 something to do with it. The bulls in the back part of the rookeries are all young 

 fellows, 5 or 6 year olds. Along the water front are a number of good-sized bulls, 

 with here and there a young one. 



LUKANIN. 



On Lukanin the central space along the beach is entirely deserted. The cows and 

 pups are either in the water and within a few feet of it or else far back in the slides 

 and among the bowlders, where the idle bulls, now gone, held sway a week or more 

 ago. The bachelors and cows mingle together on the edge of the hauling grounds. 



From the appearance of Lukanin to-day one must believe that after all there is 

 something in the " spreading" of the rookeries, but the real spreading occurs after all 

 the old cows have arrived, had their pups, and been served. The harems, in so far as 

 they can be called such, are composed of virgins, and may be located anywhere. 

 These are very conspicuous about the rookeries. It does not seem at all necessary 

 to suppose that any of them are impregnated in the water. 



Among the bachelors on the slope of Lukanin cows may be seen nursing their 

 pups, and pups are wandering everywhere. In the water they seem to have no limit 

 to their range to-day. They can be seen more than halfway up the length of Lukanin 

 sands. 



Several wet cows are seen to come in and find their pups, apparently going 

 directly to them. Three cows have come in and have been wandering about for half 

 an hour without finding pups. This is not strange, for their pups may be swimming 

 across the bight and halfway up to Stony Point. 



One wet pup is seen coming up as if from the angle of the hauling ground. 

 Looks as if it was taking a short cut home. Is 200 yards or more away, but coming 

 straight for the angle of the foot of the cliff, following along the rear of the rookery. 

 Stops and apparently picks up a pebble, swallowing it. Then it takes another and 

 another. It throws back its head while swallowing. It resumes its way directly to 

 the foot of the cliff. Calls about as if hunting for his mother. Goes up to a number 

 of cows. Wanders off among the bachelors. Gomes back; climbs up on a stone. 

 Goes down to the water. Finds two other pups with whom he seems to be acquainted 

 and stops to play with them. Does not leave the place within ten minutes, when we 

 leave. 



From the top of Lukanin Hill we look down on a lot of young bulls with virgin 

 cows. Around are cows nursing their pups, and bachelors of all ages. On a stone 



